I've been shaving for about a year to year and half. I've been using a Lynn honed Solingen blade I purchased from Cutlery World here in Kansas City about 17-18 years ago. Tried to shave with it out of box and abandoned it. Found this group about year+ ago and have been shaving straight since. I just purchased my first hone, a Norton 4k/8k at a great price from Craftsman Studios (www.craftsmanstudio.com). Felt like a heel not getting it from Ray but I do purchase my other sundries from him.

Anyway I've reviewed the archives and the current forums on honing and will be looking over the old Yahoo SRP index for old posts. My blade currently shaves okay after a year but could do better. I'll start with the "Conservative Honing Ratio" posted for Nortons by Randy Tuttle.

Sorry to ramble but very excited about starting the journey on learning this artform.

PS Are there any other straight razor guys with a wife who just doesn't get it? "Why by a sharpening stone, just take it to MarBeck, they sharpen all our kitchen knives...if your going to spend $60 dollars on a stone, you should buy a new razor then you won't ever need to sharpen it...its just a razor how could it cost $200?

My question to her, "How do you know so much about something you think is dumb, have never seen performed, or every read anything about?" Oh yeh you're a woman, you know every...(ducking to avoid thrown shoe).